The six-time WorldSBK champion put together one of his strongest rounds of the season, after securing two podiums and a fifth 🎉place in Race 2.

Alt𒁃hough the final race of the weekend left Rea slightly disappointed given the performance he showed during the Superpole Race in particular, the Kawasaki ride🍬r again closed the gap to Andrea Locatelli for P3 in the championship.

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And heading into Imola, one of hℱis best circuits on the calendar, Rea is hoping to make up more ground. 

"When I saw Imola was back on the calendar I was already looking forward to this one," said Rea. "It is a great track with a real atmosphere. You feel very close to the fans, especially with the paddock 🌠being so closely-knit and intimate. 

"The circuit is steeped in history. It has a nice lay💮out, undulations and some of the most iconic sections of track in the world. 

"I am looking forward to getting there and൲ we have good memories from 2019. With a lot of data I hope we can start Friday with a strong set-up and continue being competitive, like we were at Donington last time out. 

"It is important to try to stay on t🐓he podium and try to score some good points for our championship battles, because we will move on to Most soon after. 

"These next two rounds, in Italy and th🌄e Czech Rep🐭ublic, mark a part of the championship where we want to capitalise and be strong. I cannot wait to get stuck in."

Also strong at Donington Park was Alex Lowes, who like Rea, ♏is aiming 🌃to challenge for the podium at Imola.

L🐻owes added: "Imola is an historic track which has seen some amazing WorldSBK battles, most notably the Edwards/Bayliss scrap to decide the championship during the 2002 season. 

"The layout itself is♈ quite challenging with fast and slow changes of direction and also some elevations and drop🥀s. 

"We haven’t ridden there𒁃 since 2019 but it is a track I really enj💛oy. It is an ‘old school’ style of circuit, which is quite challenging physically, especially in the hot temperatures that have been forecast for race weekend. 

"My target, as always, is to get off to a good start on Friday so we can challenge for the podiums 🌜on Saturday an♈d Sunday - and of course have some fun."